NALYANYA KM, et al. A Review of Natural Plants as Sources of Substances… TLR 4 (3) 2021 137-148.
A Review of Natural Plants as Sources of Substances for Cleaner Leather Tanning Technologies Kallen Mulilo NALYANYA1*, Ronald K. ROP2, Arthur S. ONYUKA3, Zephania BIRECH4 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Egerton University Department of Mathematics, Actuarial and Physical Science, School of science, University of Kabianga 3 Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute, Nairobi 4 Department of Physics, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi *kallenmulilo@ymail.com 1 2
Review UDC 675.024.3 DOI: 10.31881/TLR.2021.03 Received 30 January 2021; Accepted 23 March 2021; Published Online 31 March 2021; Published 7 September 2021
ABSTRACT The stringent environmental regulations and compliance regarding leather tanning has compelled leather industry to seek alternative cleaner ingredients that have the capacity to minimize or prevent pollution caused by hazardous chemicals. Practical measures have so far involved replacing the current use of synthetic chemicals such as chromium salts, dyes, fatliquors and surfactants or minimizing their usage by incorporating agrobased organic components. Numerous papers have documented the use of different plant extracts at different stages of leather processing such as tanning, retanning, dyeing and fatliquoring. This present article details the specific plants and the leather processing stage at which they are applied and eventually the quality of the resulting leather. This article attempts to compile a considerable number of investigations published on physical properties of leather that is processed using natural plants. It has been shown that there are striking similarities in leather properties of leather processed using natural plants and using synthetic chemicals. This could help in compiling a database that details works on natural plants, stages of application and the corresponding physical properties which could provide a crucial assistance to research focusing on environmental protection and physical properties of leather which would in turn improve the quality of the resulting leather. KEYWORDS Vegetable tanning, Leather, Hazardous, Environment
INTRODUCTION Leather industry, which thrives on a by-product of the meat industry, plays a critical role in the global economy and especially in the developing countries, by contributing towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as a source of livelihoods, offering employment opportunities and supporting other downstream industries [1,2]. The potential of this industry is immense, owing to the demand for meat and leather products by the increasing world population. However, environmental concerns and the inferior quality of leather threaten the industry’s ability to penetrate the turbulent high market and comply with tough environmental regulations [2,3]. The last two decades have witnessed a growing consumer awareness leading towards the demand for quality leather products that meet the performance and durability criterion, in accordance with the occupational and safety footwear EC mark (Dir.89/686/EEC). Conversely, the growing awarewww.textile-leather.com 137
